When thinking back can hold us back: How being a follower can affect women's loss-aversion

J Exp Psychol Gen. 2019 Feb;148(2):400-406. doi: 10.1037/xge0000491. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Abstract

Despite the persistent gender gap in many organizational leadership positions, researchers have not yet examined objective predictors of this gap. A fully crossed 3 (Role Prime: leader, follower, control) × 2 (Gender Prime: present, absent) × 2 (Sex: male, female) experimental design examined the effect of group role (i.e., leader or follower) and gender on loss-aversion. Participants (192 total; 96 female) were asked to name either their former or current leader ("superior") or follower ("subordinate"), compared with a no prime condition. Results suggest that women primed with a follower role were more loss-averse than men primed with a follower role, and were more loss-averse than women primed with the leader role or in the control condition. However, the role prime did not affect men's loss-aversion. The current research suggests that researchers and practitioners should consider the effects of group role on loss-aversion, as this may contribute to gender gaps in the workplace. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Group Processes*
  • Humans
  • Leadership*
  • Male
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Behavior*
  • Thinking / physiology*
  • Young Adult